Friend,
This weekend was cold! I hope you were able to stay home and stay warm! Next week I will be traveling back to Springfield for the second week of 2026 spring session. As a reminder, you can view the full schedule for the Senate here and the House here.
Topics below include:
- Valentines for Seniors Card Drive – Deadline is Approaching
- Warm Neighbors Cool Friends Offers Energy Bill Assistance
- Q4 Levels Illinois vs Peer States
- IDHS Shares Resources as SNAP Work Requirement Rules Change in 2026
- Dept. of Aging is Seeking Senior Illinoisans for Hall of Fame
Valentines for Seniors Card Drive – Deadline Approaching
With Valentine’s Day approaching, Representative Bunting, Representative Tipsword and I are inviting you to write a Valentine’s Day card for seniors in our district. These small gestures mean so much and help remind our seniors they are valued and remembered.
Last year, members of the Senate Republican Caucus collected and delivered more than 60,000 Valentine’s cards statewide, helping brighten the day for thousands of seniors.
Residents interested in participating are encouraged to contact their local Senate Republican office for drop-off details or visit WEBSITE to learn more about the program.
Drop off or mail cards by February 2nd , 2026 to one of the legislative offices:
• 305 West Madison Street, Pontiac, IL 61764
• 132 East Main Street, Dwight, IL 61738
• 125 West Front Street, El Paso, IL 61738
• 1001 E. Grant Street, Watseka, IL 60970
Drop off hours are between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday- Friday. If you plan to deliver the cards in person, we kindly encourage you call ahead to ensure someone will be available to receive them.
Warm Neighbors Cool Friends Offers Energy Bill Assistance
With Illinoisans across the state seeing increases in their energy bills, Ameren is partnering with the Energy Assistance Foundation to offer in-need ratepayers with additional support through the Warm Neighbors Cool Friends program, which provides bill payment support for eligible households across Ameren Illinois’ service territory.
According to the Foundation, thousands of Illinois families struggle each year to keep their homes safe and comfortable during the winter and summer months. As energy prices continue to soar, the Energy Assistance Foundation recently added an additional $2 million to the relief program for Illinois customers facing financial hardships back in December.
Warm Neighbors Cool Friends provides eligible households with up to $500 in bill payment assistance through the Foundation.
To qualify, a matching customer payment is required within the last 45 days. Eligible customers include those with incomes between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or at 80% of the county’s Area Median Income (AMI).
To learn more about the program, visit https://www.warmneighborscoolfriends.org.
Q4 Levels Illinois vs Peer States
This chart tells an important story about Illinois’ economy. While our state has recovered from the pandemic downturn, our growth has lagged behind many of our peer states. By 2025, Illinois’ real GDP sits at just about 106% of pre-COVID levels, while states like Florida are nearing 130%. That gap matters. It shows that while Illinois is moving forward, we are doing so at a slower pace than our competitors and even some surrounding states. My passion is to change that by creating an environment where small businesses and large employers can grow, invest, and create jobs here in Illinois, because a stronger business climate means a stronger economy for everyone.
IDHS Shares Resources as SNAP Work Requirement Rules Change in 2026
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is sharing updated information and resources for SNAP recipients as new federal policy changes take effect in 2026.
Under the updated federal rules, the definition of Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) has expanded. Previously, it applied to adults ages 18–54 with no disabilities and no children under 18 living at home. It now includes individuals ages 55–64 with no disabilities, as well as adults with children in the home when the youngest child is age 14 or older. As a result, more SNAP recipients may be subject to work requirements moving forward.
Beginning February 1, 2026, ABAWDs who are not meeting work requirements and do not qualify for an exemption may receive SNAP benefits for only three months within a three-year period before losing eligibility. In Illinois, the current three-year period ends December 31, 2026, meaning some individuals could begin losing benefits as early as May 1, 2026.
To help individuals better understand the changes and determine whether they may be impacted, SNAP customers can use the ABE SNAP Work Requirements screener to check their status, confirm compliance, or see whether they may be eligible for an exemption.
IDHS also highlighted outreach materials created by the Greater Chicago Food Depository, including a toolkit with flyers, social media resources, and presentation materials designed to help share information ahead of the February deadline.
IDHS will also continue providing updates through snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov.
Dept. of Aging is Seeking Senior Illinoisans for Hall of Fame
The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame, a program that recognizes Illinois residents aged 65 and older for outstanding lifetime achievements and contributions.
Each year, four older adults are selected for induction, with honorees representing accomplishments in areas such as arts, sports and entertainment, community service, education, and the workforce. Nominations are open to the public, meaning anyone can submit a candidate for consideration.
To qualify, nominees must be at least 65 years old at the time they are nominated and must either currently live in Illinois or have spent most of their life in the state. The Department also accepts posthumous nominations, as long as the individual was 65 or older and an Illinois resident at the time of their death.
To be considered for the 2026 class, nominations must be submitted by June 2, 2026. For more information or to submit a nomination, please click here.